Prom and Homecoming Tips

Once you’ve found your dream prom dress, it’s time to pull the whole look together. It will help if you have a certain theme in mind when you choose your accessories. Some dresses are simpler to accessorize than others, so it’s important to always consider the dress. After all, it’s the main attraction. The key thing that you’ll want to make sure of is that you keep your outfit balanced. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself with too much jewelry and loud, clashing pieces. You’ll want to stay glamorous without crossing the line to cheesy.

Shoes and Handbags

Choose your shoes based on your dress and personal style. Be creative with them, because you have the opportunity here to select a pair that really stand out and make your ensemble your own. If your dress is long and ornate with brighter colors and patterns, it’s probably best to choose a shoe that is simple and coordinates with your dress’s colors. However, if you chose a solid, neutral-colored dress, such as a classic black gown, you may want to go bold with your shoes to provide contrast and color in your outfit. Whichever shoes you pick, just make sure that they fit you comfortably. You’ll be on your feet all night and you wouldn’t want to be in pain for hours. The same basic rules apply to handbags. Choose something simple and coordinating for a loud dress and something brighter that will stand out for a neutral one. There won’t be any need for a huge purse, so just make sure that you have enough room to fit a few essentials.

Jewelry

There are a million different jewelry options when it comes to accessorizing your prom dress. From bracelets to necklaces to earrings to tiaras and crowns to jeweled hair accessories, the choices can seem overwhelming. Just remember that less is more. Most prom dresses look best with a minimal amount of jewelry. You want to stay classy and elegant and the best way to do that is to keep your number of jewelry pieces low. That being said, you should choose fewer pieces, but really use them to give your ensemble some personality. Whether you prefer something simple and classic like a string of pearls or something funkier and more modern, go with what you really like.

Check out the PromDress.net accessory guide for more information on prom night accessories.

Prom is one of the most memorable events of your high school career, but it’s certainly not the cheapest occasion. Many girls struggle with wanting to create a night that they’ll never forget, complete with the perfect dress, without going over budget. However, with some smart planning and a bit of expertise from DressProm, you can get everything you want for prom night while still sticking to a spending plan. Here’s how to budget for prom in the DressProm way.

The Dress. For most girls, the dress is the most important — and most expensive — piece of the prom puzzle. We recommend setting aside between $100 and $600 to spend on a prom dress, depending on your overall budget and your personal tastes. While it is fairly easy to find an affordable prom dress with so many options on the market today, it’s also very possible to skim some money from the rest of your budget if you decide to splurge on a pricier designer dress. At the end of the day, it’s all up to you.

The Accessories. We recommend budgeting $100 or less for accessories, shoes included. Most people won’t even look at your accessories once they see your gorgeous dress, so it’s much more worthwhile to allot any extra cash toward your dress. Use your accessory budget to pick up some matching shoes, simple jewelry and a handy purse to carry your essentials in.

Hair and Makeup. While many girls choose to get their hair and makeup done for prom, it’s certainly not an essential part of the process. On average, a hair and makeup appointment costs about $150 to $250 at a salon, which is just not in the budget for many people. To cut costs while still getting a great beauty look, visit a makeup counter at the local mall and take advantage of the free makeovers, or enlist a friend or family member who is particularly good at hair to give you a simple up-do.

The Flowers. On average, a corsage costs between $35 and $45, while a boutonniere costs between $15 and $20. Whether you’re going with a date or a friend, you’ll likely want to set aside some cash to give them some flowers.

The Pre-Prom. Most people participate in at least some type of pre-prom activity, whether it be taking photos, renting a limo or going out to dinner (if your school doesn’t provide one).

There are only a few times in your life when you get to go all out in choosing a dress. Your prom or formal is one such occasion. While we say this is your opportunity to go all out, it is still up to you to match your style, whether it is a simple, figure flattering dress or a poofy number with fun details.

You might want to start with your personality, and activity. Are you bold? Do you like to stand out from everyone else in the room? Or will an eye-catching dress make you feel uncomfortable from all the attention? You might also want to consider what you plan to do in the dress. If you are going to be in a limo with a bunch of friends, consider how a dress with a big skirt will be sitting close together with your prom date and friends, and getting in and out of the limo. You also want to be sure you can move in the dress if you want to dance to every song until the DJ calls it quits for the night. The same goes for any after party or activities.

A simple dress is easy to put on and you don’t have to worry about adjusting all night. A dress with a larger skirt and other details might need to be fluffed or smoothed every time you get up or sit down. Those larger dresses can be fun, though, just be prepared for a bit of a fussy dress, and give yourself a once over before saying cheese.

Check out our post on choosing a dress for your body type for more tips on finding the dress that works with your figure. Also know that you have more options if you buy your dress early. As it gets closer to your prom, more styles will sell out.

Remember that this is a night you will always remember, and your dress is a big part of that experience. Consider all the styles out there, and find something you are comfortable with, and happy with. There are more styles and designs available than ever before, and you can find a dress that is really unique that you can enjoy wearing.

After you’ve identified the prom dress style that you want to wear, the next big question is the color. Now, color is key because picking the wrong hue can actually leave you looking washed out. It’s not your imagination that some colors are more flattering than others on you, which is why it’s vital to target a color that brings out all of your best assets. So, how do you decide on the perfect prom dress color for you? Well, the secret is actually in the undertones.

First off, don’t confuse surface tone with undertone. Surface tone is what’s on top and what you pay attention to when it comes to makeup. However, undertone is what lies underneath your skin. Undertone is broken into three categories; cool, warm and neutral. Cool means you have pink, red or blue undertones while warm describes yellow or golden undertones. Ladies that are neutral have a combo of both. Don’t stress. It only takes a minute to decide which undertone best describes you.

Look at your veins – Check out the veins by your wrist. If they’re bluish, then you have cool undertones. Green means that you have warm.

Silver or gold – If silver jewelry looks better on you than you have cool undertones. Gold tends to flatter warm toned ladies.

Natural hair and eye color – If the previous tricks didn’t help, then consider the hair and eye color that nature gave you. Gals with blue, green or gray eyes and blonde, brown or black hair have cool undertones while ladies with brown, hazel or amber eyes along with red, brown, black or strawberry blonde hair have warm undertones.

Fun in the sun – Another way to find your undertone is to take a look at your skin after a day spent in the sun. Girls that tan easily have warm undertones while gals that burn quickly have cool.

Okay, so now that you’ve identified your undertone. Target a prom dress color that flatters your undertone and you have the ideal prom dress color for you. Fabulous colors for warm undertones are yellow, richer hues of red, shades of brown, creamy colors as well as lighter greensthat have a yellow mix. Cool undertones will rock blue, purple, pink, darker greens, reds that boast a bluish base and cyan.

Shopping for a prom dress is confusing enough what with all of the different styles and colors. Factor in the material and the stress starts to set in. So, don’t stress. Take a look at DressProm.net’s fabric guide to get a handle on the types of fabrics available in today’s most popular prom dress styles. Let the guide help take the confusion out of your search, leaving you with the important stuff like finding the perfect prom dress.

Tulle is typically made from silk, rayon, nylon or cotton. It is what gives prom styles like ball gowns and mermaid dresses their pouf.

Silk is a naturally fiber that is as luscious as it sounds. You’ll find that many of the more elegant prom designs are fashioned from silk.

Satin is an extremely popular material for prom dresses. A satin weave has a shiny and a matte side.

Velvet has that warm and fuzzy feel. It can be made from silk, cotton or synthetics. While velvet is not your typical prom dress fabric, it is a sophisticated choice that stands out.

Lace can come in many different weaves, patterns and weight. Some prom dresses may feature lace accents or be designed entirely of lace. While lace is stunning remember it is a delicate material that does have a tendency to snag.

Sequin fabrics are the choice when you want something with a bit more glitz and glam. Sequined materials typically have a mesh or organza backing.

Chiffon is made from silk or polyester. Its simple allure and delicate shimmer make chiffon an appealing pick for prom dresses. Chiffon is also a lightweight fabric that’s sheer, which is why dresses using it have layers.

Taffeta makes that great rustling sound when you sashay down the red carpet. It can be fashioned from silk or synthetic fiber. Taffeta is often used in mermaid or trumpet gowns because it’s stiffer.

Organza offers a smooth, lightweight fabric that’s sheer. However, organza can also be stiff, which makes it a great choice for silhouette prom dresses.

Prom is one of the most important milestones in your life—or at least it certainly feels that way. DressProm has done all of the research for your reading pleasure. Here’s a look at all of the prom guides you need to know about before your prom:

Prom Guide: Talking About the Hottest Trends

In our prom guide we cover all of the latest trends taking over the prom cycle for the upcoming season. See, it’s never too early to start thinking about the prints, cuts and colors you should consider for your prom. Learn about styles that are still going strong, like the two-piece dress, and get a crash course in how rompers and jumpsuits have become the edgy style choice for daring fashionistas.

A Guide to Hair and Makeup

To contour or not to contour? Do you know what hair and makeup dos and don’ts you need to know about for prom. Prom is your chance to get glammed up, but it’s also important not to overdo it or settle for a look that clashes with your dress. Don’t worry, our hair and makeup guide will set you straight!

How to Budget for Prom

Even if mom and dad are pitching in for your prom dress, it’s important to build a budget that you can stick to. When the perfect dress catches your eye, you don’t want to be stuck a few dollars short. Our budget guide will help you through creating a realistic budget that still ensures your prom is as magical as you dreamed it would be.

Planning for Prom: Making Sure You Don’t Miss Anything!

Plan, plan, plan! A strong game plan for prom is essential to making the night as enjoyable as possible. Leave yourself enough time to add anything you forget to your plan. If you’re planning to do to prom with your squad, make sure you check in with each other to ensure everyone is on the same page. For the rest, check our guide to planning your prom night!

Find out how to make waves without hitting the beach with our DIY Sea Salt Beach Waves spray recipe!

Okay – now that prom 2014 is officially over, why not get ready for the next event coming up: visiting the beach! Ditch the heels and grab a pair of flip fops, because we have a recipe for DIY Sea Salt Beach Waves Spray that will make you feel like sea goddess you were destined to be!

DIY Sea Salt Beach Waves Spray

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons of organic, virgin Coconut Oil

2 Tablespoons of sea salt

2 Tablespoons of alcohol-free hair gel

2 cups of water

An empty spray bottle

Directions:

First, make sure that the 2 tablespoons of coconut oil are in liquid form. You can do this by microwaving it for about 15 seconds. Next, you’ll combine the sea salt, hair gel, and two cups of water in a bowl and whisk the ingredients until they’re blended. Last, transfer to your empty spray bottle and spray on your wet hair, letting it air dry for the best waves outside of the beach!

Want to see what we have to offer for prom 2014 gowns? Visit us today at DressProm.net!

If there was one color that flew off our racks this season, it was all green! But don’t get too envious just yet – we’ve highlighted some of your most sought after, bought, and favorite green dresses of 2014!

Flirt P2831 – This gorgeous green chiffon floor-length prom dress with a high slit is one of our favorites from 2014. With the beautiful cut out center and jeweled embellishments, we just couldn’t keep this emerald beauty from Flirt by Maggie Sottero to ourselves this season!

Jasz Couture 5004 – When it comes to the pinnacle of sophistication, this show-stopping, green dress from Jasz Couture takes the cake. Strapless, beaded, and asymmetrical, this gorgeous gown’s elegance is something that many of our customers couldn’t get enough of this season!

Panoply 14647 – Mint was one of our biggest requests for colors this season, and this dress embodied that color so elegantly. This mermaid gown gives off a retro, vintage vibe while still using the season’s hottest color in a way that accentuates all this dress has to offer.

Sherri Hill 3907 – Sherri Hill knocked it out of the park with this green and glittering gown! With a stunning empire waist that highlighted the detail in the bodice, this gown not only was a best seller but one that we loved as well.

When you’re applying your makeup before prom or any big event, you’re going to want it to last the whole night, right? When you’re dancing the night away in your gorgeous Alyce Designs gown, the last thing you want to be worrying about is if your eyeliner isn’t running down your cheeks. We have the right way to apply your makeup so it will stay for longer and look fabulous no matter what event you’re headed to!

Next, use a toner if you have especially dry skin. This helps to get rid of any clogged pores, extra oil and dirt, and keep your skin looking fresh.

Apply your moisturizer with SPF already in it. This will help keep your skin safe from the sun’s harmful rays and keep it supple.

Next, you’ll apply your makeup primer.

After your primer sets into your skin, dot your concealer on to your blemishes and/or dark circles. You’re going to want to blend this in as best as you can with a foam blender pad or a flat-tipped brush.

Next comes your foundation. Make sure you’re applying a foundation that can be layered and not look too thick. You’ll want to apply this to your face and neck.

After you’ve blended your foundation, apply your bronzer/highlighter. Apply these to your cheek bones, bridge of your nose, and point of your chin. Blend with a foam blender pad.

Once your bronzer is blended, add your blush to the apples of your cheeks.

Next, add your eye makeup. This includes your eyeliner, eye shadow, and mascara. Usually starting with the liner and working your way to the mascara is the best sequence, but your eye makeup should always be applied close to the end of your makeup application.

Lastly, you’re going to want to apply the lipstick or lip gloss portion of your makeup routine. Make sure your lips are clean and exfoliated before you apply, and you’ll have long-lasting lips for the whole night.

Are you looking for new, fun, and creative ways to re-use or recycle old prom dresses? Luckily – we not only have a special interest in offering the best selection of prom dresses, but we also have a bunch of different ways you can get more than one use out of your prom 2014 gown! Here are some interesting ways you can dust off that magic dress and get it glammed up for a second round!

Throw a retro themed party – Maybe your dress isn’t considered retro just yet, but you still want to throw a fun, vintage themed prom party. You can literally use any one of your old prom dresses, throw on some converse, and crimp your hair to go with an 80’s themed prom party. Even if you do have a vintage dress – it doesn’t matter what era you go with, just get creative and invite all your friends!

Save it for Halloween – Why not be a Zombie Prom Queen when you head out for Halloween that year? Halloween is one of the best holidays to dig out the stuff you don’t wear on a regular basis and turn them into an unforgettable costume. Some of our favorite costume ideas to use your old prom gown for are Retro Prom Queen, Old Hollywood Starlet, or your favorite Childhood Princess are just a few.

Create something from the fabric – This is something for those who are a little more daring and crafty with a sewing machine, but creating memory quilt from the fabric can be a great way to reuse your old prom gown. If you’re not looking to cut it up completely, getting it framed and mounted into a shadow box can be a fun way to remember your gown too.

Want to see the rest of our prom 2014 gowns? Visit us today at DressProm.net!